A recent question from a client regarding insurance issues related to fire hazard areas reminded me that as Spring winds down and the hillside grasses turn golden brown, it is time again for Marin County residents to contemplate fire safety. Indeed, there are many areas of Marin County that are particularly sensitive to fire danger. The following information is geared towards protecting against the threat of wildfires, as well as providing information about what to do if confronted with one. For more information, check out the following website: FireSafe Marin.
At the heart of preparing against the threat from wildfires, is the concept of “Defensible Space,” which refers to the area around a home that is cleared of natural combustibles, allowing firefighters a meaningful chance to fight fire and keep it away from your house. It is recommended that you clear all dry grass, brush, and fallen leaves within 30 feet (and up to 150 feet if you are on a slope). Contact your local fire department to determine the clearance requirement for your specific property (of course, do not trespass).
Before Wildfire Threatens
Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain fire, rather than fuel it. Use fire-resistant or non-combustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the dwelling, or treat wood or combustible materials used in roofs, siding, decking or trim with UL-approved fire retardant chemicals. Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.
Protecting Your Home
· Regularly clear roof and gutters of pine needles, leaves or other debris. Trim back branches within 6 feet of the home.
· Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them at least once a year. Keep dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys with stovepipes with a non-flammable screen of 1/2 inch or smaller mesh.
· Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test monthly and change the battery two times each year.
· Teach family members how to use a fire extinguisher (ABC type) and show them where it is kept.
· Keep a ladder that will reach the roof.
· Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes.
· Keep household items handy that can be used as fire tools: a rake, axe, handsaw or chain saw, bucket, shovel, garden hose.
Create a Defensible Space
To create a defensible space, remove all dry grass, brush, and dead vegetation at least 30 to 100 feet around you home. Here are additional steps to help reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat.
· Regularly remove dead and dying vegetation.
· Mow grass regularly.
· Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns, and remove limbs that are within 10 feet of the ground.
· Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
· Prune tree branches and shrubs within 10 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
· Remove vines from exterior walls.
When Wildfire Threatens
If you are warned that a wildfire is threatening your area follow the instructions of local officials. Remember, personal safety should always come first!
· Back you car into the garage or park it in an open area facing the direction of escape. Shut doors and roll up windows. Leave the key in the ignition. Close garage windows and doors, but leave them unlocked. Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
· Confine pets to one room. Make plans to care for your pets in case you must evacuate.
· Arrange temporary housing at a friend’s or relative’s home outside the threatened area.
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately:
· Know at least two exit routes from your neighborhood in case of emergency evacuation.
· Wear protective clothing – sturdy shoes, cotton or woolen clothing, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, and a handkerchief to protect your face.
· Take a your Disaster Supplies Kit.
· Lock your home.
· Tell someone when you left and where you are going.
· Choose a route away from fire hazards. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke.
If you’re sure you have time, take the following steps to protect your home:
Inside
· Close windows, vents, doors, venetian blinds or non-combustible window coverings and heavy drapes. Remove lightweight curtains.
· Shut off gas at the meter. Turn off pilot lights.
· Open fireplace damper. Close fireplace screens.
· Move flammable furniture into the center of the home away from windows and sliding glass doors.
Outside
· Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.
· Place combustible patio furniture inside.
· Connect garden hose to outside taps.
Emergency Supplies
When wildfire threatens, you won’t have time to search for supplies. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need if advised to evacuate. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffel bags or trash containers. Include:
· A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won’t spoil.
· One change of clothing and footwear per person and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.
· A first aid kit that includes your family’s prescription medications.
· Emergency tools, including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
· An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash or travelers checks.
· Sanitation supplies.
· Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
· An extra pair of eye glasses.
· Keep important family documents in a waterproof container.
For lots of links to additional fire and safety related materials go to the FireSafe Marin resources page. Have a safe and fun Summer!
Marin County’s $2 million to $4 million luxury home market experienced its annual March swelling of inventory–with 115 active listings compared to 89 homes last month. This rise in inventory was accompanied by a moderate month of sales, with 14 homes sold (up from 10 homes sold last month). Mill Valley accounted for 3 sales, followed by Belvedere with 2 sales. Tiburon, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Kentfield, Ross, and San Rafael, each had one sale. The average days on market for homes that sold was about 60 days, the average sales price was just over $2.6 million (roughly $773/per sq. ft.), and average sized home was 3,631 square feet.
Marin County’s ultra-luxury market (homes priced in the $4 million and up range) remained fairly stable in terms of listing numbers–it was up slightly to 41 active listings (there were 39 last month). Tiburon, as usual, boasts the largest number of such homes with 15. It is followed by Belvedere with 8, Kentfield with 6, and Mill Valley with 4. Just 2 homes in this price band sold last month in Marin–both in Tiburon. However, another 4 are currently in escrow. Because only 2 homes sold last month the average days on market, price, square footage, and price per square foot are of little assistance in gauging the market. But, for those who are curious, the homes that sold averaged about 5,124 square feet, sold for an average price of $4.575 million (approximately $921/sq. ft.), and were on the market an average of 12 days. Also of note, Marin’s most expensive home got more expensive. This unique Tiburon estate, sitting on eight acres with stunning views and resplendent gardens, was bestowed with a new price of $49,995,000, up from $38.5 million.
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Marin Cities & Towns
|
$2 Million — $4 Million
|
$4 Million & Up
|
|
Active
|
Pending
|
Active
|
Pending
|
|
Sausalito
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
|
Belvedere
|
8
|
3
|
8
|
2
|
|
Tiburon
|
23
|
4
|
15
|
0
|
|
Mill Valley
|
23
|
8
|
4
|
0
|
|
Larkspur
|
7
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
|
Corte Madera
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Kentfield
|
7
|
4
|
6
|
1
|
|
Greenbrae
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Ross
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
|
San Anselmo
|
17
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
|
San Rafael
|
9
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
|
Novato
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
The above graph identifies the numbers of active listings and homes in contract in the Marin County luxury and ultra-luxury home market segments. Note that all homes in contract are included in the category “Pending” even though some are technically “Contingent” properties (e.g., the buyers have not removed all contingencies). This information is limited to Marin County’s Highway 101 corridor towns and cities that consistently maintain a monthly inventory of luxury and ultra-luxury homes (beach homes are not included here). Call Kyle Frazier, CRS, Broker Associate, Frank Howard Allen Realtors of Marin, at 415/350-9440 with any questions about a particular neighborhood or your situation. You can also e-mail Kyle at [email protected].
Marin County, California, is experiencing its annual blossoming of the number of homes for sale. Real estate listings are up in nearly every town, city, burg, and hollow.? There are? 802 active listings (up from? 614? in? March 2008), not including condos.? Indeed, the Spring selling season is upon us and buyers are out there in droves.? Reports from agents suggest that open houses? are extremely busy (and virtually all open houses held? for my listings over the past? few weeks? back this up).?
I anticipate more and more enthusiasm? for? Marin real estate as? interest rates continue in historically low territory and buyers further appreciate that prices are not going down in Marin like they are elsewhere in the country. Moreover, now that the? new conforming loan programs are in place,? there will likely? be a surge of well-qualified buyers moving quickly to grab the homes of their choice.? Meanwhile, buyers? continue? offering large down payments and short contingencies to? bolster their negotiating leverage with sellers anxious to make a? deal.? Investors are circling and picking off low end bread and butter homes.
The graph below breaks down the current number of homes for sale in Marin County, California,? in? March 2008, along with the price ranges for each town/city. Also included is a note indicating? whether inventory is up or down over the past month:
Marin Single Family Homes For Sale
|
Town/City
|
Homes for Sale
(Active Listings)
|
Price Range
|
?
Some observations:? Buying a home in tony Belvedere, as always, is an expensive proposition–youll need? about $2.7 million? to? buy at the entry level.? The highest priced luxury home in Marin, however,? is located in Tiburon. An ultra-luxury? dream estate on about 8.5 acres, with 12 Bedrooms, 10 full baths, 3 half baths, and show-stopping views of the? San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay–asking price $49.995? million.? In fact, Tiburon? boasts several? homes in the $10 million and up range.
On the other hand, Novato continues to be a Marin home buyers’ dream.? Novato has? 5 homes priced under $500,000 and its 235? active listings is by far the most in Marin County. Even San Rafael in Central Marin has? 11 homes priced under $750,000 (3 of these are under $600,000). As noted last month, investors are beginning to ask about certain homes and condos (condo prices have come down by 40% in some cases).? All signs point to a very active Q2 2008.? My feeling is that the next quarter will be the best time buyers market, based on price and interest rates, that we will see for a long time.?
If you desire a list of Marin County’s best deals or? more specific analysis of your neighborhood, please give me a call at (415) 350-9440.
Ah, Spring in Mill Valley. The new leaves. The fragrant flowers. Smiles…. Bliss. And for buyers and sellers of homes in one of the Bay Area’s premier locations, it is time to move. As always, the commute to San Francisco from Mill Valley via the Golden Gate Bridge (a short 5-10 minutes), along with the excellent Mill Valley schools, pleasant weather and laid back ambiance provides ample motivation for San Francisco professionals to relocate to Marin County. Indeed, Mill Valley is THE place people thinking of moving out of San Francisco generally start with when they decide to buy a home in Marin County.
Despite the recent wave of new listings coming on the market, the percentage of homes in escrow has risen in most price bands. Agents are noting a sense of purpose in the market. Mill Valley’s inventory of single family homes for sale has to 116 homes currently on the market (there were 76 in March 2008). Mill Valley homes that sold during the past month (there were 12 sales) averaged a mere 35 days on the market and sold for an average price of about $1.579 million (about $738 per square foot), and averaged about 2,096 square feet.
|
Price Range
|
Total Active Homes
|
Pending Listings
|
|
Up to $800K
|
17 (up 7)
|
24%
|
|
$800K – $1 mil.
|
11 (no change)
|
27%
|
|
$1 mil. – 1.5 mil.
|
40 (up 12)
|
25%
|
|
$1.5 mil. – $2 mil.
|
24 (up 7)
|
17%
|
|
$2 mil. – $4 mil.
|
30 (up 6)
|
27%
|
|
$4 mil. & Up
|
4 (no change)
|
0%
|
Homes in Sycamore Park, Middle Ridge, and Cascade Canyon continue to be in low supply and high demand. If you would like me to run the exact numbers on your neighborhood, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440 or e-mail me at [email protected].
As we enter into the prime buying season, the housing market in San Rafael is chugging along in good fashion. San Rafael’s current market reflects an interesting phenomenon–entry level homes under $800,000 are selling very well, as are homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million. Meanwhile, homes in the remaining price ranges are not selling as briskly. Nonetheless, it still seems there is pent-up buyer demand and open houses have been very busy almost across the board. As with Marin in general, inventory is up and sellers really need to focus their efforts on presenting their homes in the best possible light and pricing their homes to sell. Buyers know value when they see it and that’s what it takes to get them to put pen to paper and make offer.
Of the 24 homes that sold in March 2008 (26 sold in February), the average days on market was 55 days. They sold for an average price of about $985,000 (about $511/square foot) and the average size was approximately 1,897 square feet). In an interesting twist, San Rafael’s sales numbers for March were roughly the equivalent of February’s number, while home sales in Novato more than doubled. For a brief discussion regarding the importance of the percentage of homes in “Pending” status, click HERE. San Rafael’s strongest micro-climate markets during the past month included The Dominican, Glenwood, Terra Linda, Marinwood, Peacock Gap, and Lucas Valley Estates. Renovated Eichler homes continue to see strong sales.
|
Price Range
|
Total Homes
|
Pending Listings
|
|
Up to $800K
|
87 (up 19)
|
31%
|
|
$800K – $1 mil.
|
64 (up 19)
|
14%
|
|
$1 mil. – 1.5 mil.
|
55 (up 19)
|
29%
|
|
$1.5 mil. – $2 mil.
|
23 (up 11)
|
4%
|
|
$2 mil. & Up
|
12 (up 9)
|
8%
|
Contact Kyle Frazier, CRS, Frank Howard Allen Realtors with any questions: (415) 350-9440.
The Novato (Marin County, California) home sales market ended the first quarter of 2008 on a positive note as sales continued at an even pace through March. While the number of active listings is up, buyers are jumping in to take advantage of the well priced inventory on hand. Indeed, there are lots newer homes, under 10 years old, under $800,000 in Hamilton Field. Moreover, Novato also has 5 homes priced under $500,000. Overall, roughly 20% of homes on the market in Novato are in escrow. Sellers face stiff competition. Their homes must show well and be priced to sell–buyers are very knowledgeable about the market. It helps if the home is updated and/or located in a desirable neighborhood. It is expected that sales will pick up in the month as buyers begin accessing the the new conforming loan programs put into effect over the past couple of weeks. Novato is poised for a big quarter of home sales as buyers recognize the comparative value of homes and as the HWY 101 freeway widening project gets closer to completion (minimizing the commute-time concerns of past years).
The number of homes in Novato that sold in March 2008 more than doubled over the prior month (there were 37 home sales, up from 17 in March)–they averaged about 103 days on market, sold for an average sales price of $793,000 (roughly $359 per sq./ft.), and the average sized home was 2,308 square feet. Homes in Hamilton Field (particularly South Gate and Newport), Pointe Marin, Rush Creek, Indian Valley, San Marin, and Partridge Knoll continue to get robust numbers of showings, as do the new luxury homes at Stonetree and the green homes of Olive Ridge (3 of which sold last month alone).
|
Price Range
|
Total Homes
|
Pending Listings
|
|
Up to $600K
|
78
|
24%
|
|
$600K - $750K
|
53
|
17%
|
|
$750K – $1 mil.
|
77
|
13%
|
|
$1 mil. – $1.5 mil.
|
56
|
18%
|
|
$1.5 mil. & Up
|
26
|
12%
|
For a brief explanation of the importance of the statistic addressing the percentage of “Pending” listings, click HERE. If you would like me to run the exact numbers on your neighborhood, just give me a call at (415) 350-9440. It is my pleasure to be of service.
Novato’s Lu Sutton Elementary and Rancho Elementary, Ross School in Ross, 
and Bayside Elementary in Sausalito were selected as 2008 California “distinguished schools” by the state Department of Education. The award recognizes test scores and improvements. Marin schools account for 77 distinguished school awards over the past 12 years. Rancho, Ross, and Bayside received the award in 1989 (Ross also was recognized in 1993). This is the first distinguished school award for Novato’s Lu Sutton Elementary.
Click HERE for a breakdown of Marin County Schools’ API test scores, as reported by the California Department of Education.
